Passenger space

You shouldn’t have much of an issue getting comfortable in the SEAT Leon. Even S models have a height adjustable driver’s seat and a steering wheel that adjusts up and down, as well as in and out. Even so, it’s worth upgrading to SE Technology models, which add height adjustment for the passenger seat and lumbar adjustment for the driver’s chair, which should make it a bit more comfortable on long journeys.

Your passengers in the back won’t be complaining, despite the Leon’s sporty exterior. Even adults who sit straight will find headroom is decent and knee room is pretty good, too. Even with three in the back, it’s not bad – the back seat’s flat cushion means a third passenger doesn’t feel perched like they can in some cars. All in all, it’s much better in the back than a Ford Focus.

Fitting a standard child seat in the SEAT Leon shouldn’t be an issue, but getting a huge group-one seat – suitable for kids up to four-years old – squeezed through the small back doors is a little trickier.

Storage space

Basic models have a decent amount of interior storage. You get large door bins, a smaller storage area next to the steering wheel that’s great for spare change and a tray in front of the gear stick with a USB socket that’s perfect for your phone. For £160 it can even offer wireless charging for your smartphone. In between the two front seats you get two cup holders, a storage cubby and another lidded storage area under the front centre armrest.

Spend a bit extra on an SE Technology model and you can make full use of the Leon’s interior space – it adds a couple of cupholders for the back seat, along with an air vent for your rear-seat passengers. You also get a storage box under the driver’s seat that’s an ideal place for storing valuables, and pockets on the backs of the front seats.

The Leon combines bundles of practical features and a big boot in a surprisingly sporty package – a bit like a running shoe that doubles as a hiking boot

Mat Watson

carwow expert

Boot space

The SEAT’s 380-litre boot matches the VW Golf’s for capacity and is bigger than the Vauxhall Astra (370 litres) and the Ford Focus (316 litres), although the Skoda Octavia’s 590 litre capacity makes them all look a little silly.

You’ll find the SEAT Leon has a decent number of boot features too. You get hooks for your shopping, a couple of smaller storage areas on the side of the boot and tie-down hooks for your luggage, but no 12v power socket and no adjustable boot floor as standard. The latter can be solved if you buy the storage pack (up to £205 depending on model), which includes the moveable floor – plus a box under the passenger’s seat, a boot divider net and a foldable front passenger seat.

Annoyingly, even if you buy the pack and set the floor in its highest setting, there’s still a sizeable boot lip to drag objects over that you don’t get in a VW Golf. That said, the boot is big enough for a large and two small suitcases.

With the rear seats split 60:40, you get 1,210 litres of space and with the false floor you get a flat floor, although you’ll still have to negotiate the tall load lip to get a bike in with both its wheels attached.

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On average carwow buyers save £4,914 off the RRP of the SEAT Leon they configure.

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